360 South Street Car Wash (Ortonville, Oakland County)

Kevin Wojciechowski, WojciechowskiK@Michigan.gov, 586-623-2948.

The 360 South Street Car Wash in Ortonville is a four-bay, self-serve car wash open to the public from late March through mid-November each year. Wash water generated at the car wash flows through four settling tanks, operated in series, before being discharged to the groundwater. During the operating season, wash water from the final settling tank is discharged to the groundwater via spray irrigation. When the system is winterized, any flow from the final settling tank is directed to a seepage pond that discharges to the groundwater. To date, the car wash has not been issued a state Groundwater Discharge Permit. EGLE is working with the car wash to address the unpermitted groundwater discharge.

As part of a statewide sampling effort, EGLE sampled the onsite well water (i.e., influent), the wash water in the final settling tank (i.e., effluent), and two groundwater monitoring wells for PFAS at the car wash in Fall 2021.

Estimated groundwater flow direction is to the east.

Content posted June 2022.

EGLE, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and the Oakland County Health Department are working to identify nearby residential wells and determine if sampling for PFAS is needed.

EGLE will continue to work with the 360 South Street Car Wash to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in groundwater on-site as well as identify and reduce or eliminate potential sources of PFAS at the car wash. EGLE, MDHHS, and the Oakland County Health Department are working to identify nearby residential wells and determine if sampling for PFAS is needed. EGLE will continue to work with the 360 South Street Car Wash to address the unpermitted groundwater discharge.